Now Playing on Stage May 1-7, 2008

The Andrews Brothers. Featherweight writer Roger Bean (Marvelous Wonderettes) takes on WW2. Three USO stagehands (original Forever Plaidsters Stan Chandler, David Engel, Larry Raben) finally get to perform on stage – in drag, posing as the Andrews Sisters. Darcie Roberts adds genuine womanhood to the mix. Nick DeGruccio directs. Musical Theatre West at Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St, Long Beach, (562) 856-1999 x4. Call for performance schedule. Closes May 4. (Don Shirley)

Black & Bluestein. In 1963, a black doctor offers to buy a house in a white, mostly Jewish St. Louis suburb. The house is owned by the developer and his liberal wife, who face opposition from neighbors and relatives. Jerry Mayer’s meatier-than-usual autobiographical tale achieves considerable pungency, despite a few clunky components. The Other Space, Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth St, Santa Monica. Info: (800) 838-3006 or Santamonicaplayhouse.com. Sats 3 & 8; Suns 3 & 7. Closes May 3. (DS)

Britannicus. John Rafter Lee’s modern adaptation of Jean Racine’s 1669 tragedy, about the Roman emperor Nero (a Cagneyesque Josh Nathan), his domineering mother (Maria Mayenzet), his stepbrother (Kyle Hall), and the woman (Anna Steers) pursued by both men. Bart DeLorenzo’s staging overcomes acoustical challenges and ignites in Act 2. National Guard Armory, 854 E Seventh St, Long Beach. Info: (562) 985-5526 or Calrep.org. Thurs at 7; Fris-Sats at 8. Closes May 17. (DS)

Chico’s Angels: Chicas Are Forever. This Charlie’s Angels spoof features men (Oscar Quintero, Ray Garcia, Danny Casillas) in skimpy dresses, garish makeup, and outlandish wigs. James Quinn’s new episode has original music (Dan Ring) and lyrics (Mr. Dan) instead of song parodies. Director Kurt Koehler maintains a gleefully raunchy ambience. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Av, Silverlake, (323) 662-4255. Cavernclubtheater.com/chico.html. Thurs at 8; Fris-Sats at 9; Suns at 8. Closes May 18. (DS)

Coffee Will Make You Black. A black Chicago girl (irresistible Diona Reasonover) wanders precariously through the racial and sexual revelations and revolutions of the ’60s in Michael Shepperd’s adaptation of April Sinclair’s novel, directed by Nataki Garrett. Although the male roles are cast too old, the play’s many awakenings feel fresh and vital. Celebration Theatre, 7051-B Santa Monica Bl, Hollywood. Info: (323) 957-1884 or Celebrationtheatre.com. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes May 25. (DS)

Comic Potential. In a near future, TV soap operas are cast with “actoids” – computer-programmed robots. One of them (Oona Mekas and Katie Kocis alternate) has more human aspirations and runs off with a young writer (William Joseph Hill). Stan Mazin’s staging of Alan Ayckbourn’s intriguing comedy is a bit ragged around the edges. The Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, 10900 Burbank Bl, North Hollywood, (818) 700-4878. Lcgrt.com. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 2. Closes May 18. (DS)

The Common Air. Alex Lyras convincingly plays six men who meet, one by one, during an 18-hour airport security incident, in sequence: Iraqi American cabbie, gay art dealer, hyped-up attorney, hip-hop DJ, Texas philosophy prof, and Iraqi American caterer – whose tale is the least plausible. Written by Lyras and director Robert McCaskill. Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Bl, Hollywood. Info: (323) 960-4443 or Thecommonair.com. Fris-Sats at 8. Closes May 3. (DS)

Compleat Female Stage Beauty. The new Rogue Machine company rearranged this venue for Jeffrey Hatcher’s account of the 1660s rise of actresses on the London stage and the fall of an actor (Michael Traynor) who previously played women’s roles. John Perrin Flynn’s staging seldom flags, but the mix of modern and period design falls flat. Rogue Machine in Theatre Theater, 5041 Pico Bl, L.A., (323) 960-7726. Roguemachinetheatre.com. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes June 1. (DS)

The Concept of Remainders. A middle-aged couple (Dan Gilvezan, Suzanne Ford) agrees to permit infidelity for 10 days, not suspecting that they might try out the same partner – or emerge with no one. One key coupling is announced, not seen, in Richard Martin Hirsch’s script, which lowers the plausibility of Mark L. Taylor’s likable staging. The Chandler Studio Theatre Center, 12443 Chandler Bl, North Hollywood, (800) 838-3006. Theprodco.com. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes May 17. (DS)

Don Juan. Molière’s version of the legendary rake’s story is boldly admiring, and it seems fairly up-to-date in Michael Michetti’s quasi-modernist staging of Richard Nelson’s translation. Elijah Alexander and JD Cullum, perfectly cast as Don Juan and his skeptical valet, and the entire cast deliver savvy timing and perceptive performances. A Noise Within, 234 S Brand Bl, Glendale, (818) 240-0910 x1. Anoisewithin.org. Call for performance schedule. Closes May 24. (DS)

Emergency. See Stage feature review.

Fortinbras. Lee Blessing’s jaunty sequel to Hamlet charts the reign of the Norwegian prince (Greg Baglia) who enters at Shakespeare’s final curtain, only to face war with Poland and the needling ghosts of the murdered royals. Maria Cominis’s staging for Theatre Neo keeps the satirical balls spinning in a debonair display of comic timing. Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Bl, North Hollywood, (323) 769-5858. Theatreneo.com. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 2. Closes May 3. (DS)

Great Expectations. Jules Aaron’s staging of this musical version of the Dickens novel works for awhile, but often feels like work. In Act 2, the convoluted plot is awkwardly compressed and rushed. Brian VanDerWilt adapted Margaret Hoorneman’s script, and Richard Winzeler and Steve Lane added sometimes perfunctory songs. Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Bl, Hollywood. Info: (323) 960-4442 or Plays411.com/greatexpectations. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 2. Closes May 11. (DS)

Henry IV Part One. Shakespeare’s history play receives a sturdy, intelligent staging by Geoff Elliott – who doubles as Falstaff – and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, but it never quite surprises with unexpected insight. Freddy Douglas is an amused Prince Hal, perhaps a bit too centered from the get-go, while J. Todd Adams is a blisteringly hot Hotspur. A Noise Within, 234 S Brand Bl, Glendale, (818) 240-0910 x1. Anoisewithin.org. Call for performance schedule. Closes May 18. (DS)

The Immigrant. A Steven Alper/Sarah Knapp score enhances Mark Harelik’s story of his Russian Jewish grandparents (Christopher Guilmet, Monica Louwerens) settling in small-town Texas, with help from a banker (Joe Garcia) and his wife (Cynthia Marty). Act 2 conflicts lift it far above feel-good formulas. Hope Alexander’s staging adds luster. The Colony Theatre, 555 N Third St, Burbank, (818) 558-7000. Colonytheatre.org. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 2 and 7. Closes May 4. (DS)

The Injured Party. Richard Greenberg’s comedy about a would-be artist/heir (hilariously irascible Reg Rogers) awaiting loot from his rich grandma (Cynthia Harris) is clever, with a design partially inspired by Christo’s The Gates (a topic in the script). But it finally feels more fleetingly airy than the similarly themed What They Have next door. South Coast Repertory, Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, (714) 708-5555. Scr.org. Tues-Fris at 7:45. Sats-Suns at 2 and 7:45. Closes May 11. (DS)

Klüb. Nine desperate performers are forced to audition their over-the-top shtick for an unseen tyrant (director Michael Schlitt) in Mitch Watson’s satire. They aim not to get into a show but to escape the audition room, which is more expansive and atmospheric than in the 1992 original. Energetic performances enliven an inherently repetitive script. The Actors’ Gang Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Bl, Culver City, (310) 838-4264. Theactorsgang.com. Thurs-Fris at 8; Sats at 8 & 10:30. Closes May 11. (DS)

The Lost Plays of Tennessee Williams. In Jack Heller’s staging of the writer’s most explicitly gay-themed script, And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens, a ’50s French Quarter designer (Brian Foyster) tries to seduce a ruggedly straight sailor (Chris Rydell). The brief curtain raisers are Mister Paradise and The Palooka. All are well done. Davidson/Valentini Theatre, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1125 McCadden Pl, Hollywood, (323) 860-7300. Lagaycenter.org. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 7. No perfs May 30-June 1. Closes June 8. (DS) 

The Night of the Iguana. See Critic's Choice.

Point Break Live! The New Rock Theater takeoff on the 1991 Hollywood thriller Point Break adds a tsunami of comedy to the original story, about an FBI agent (who’s cast nightly from the audience and gets to read cue cards) investigating a gang of bank-robbing L.A. surfers. Wicked caricatures and bare-bones action sequences abound. Charlie O’s in the Alexandria Hotel, 501 S Spring St, downtown L.A., (866) 811-4111. Theatermania.com. Sats-Suns at 7. (DS)

Prelude and Liebestod. A conductor (Larry Eisenberg, resembling Leonard Bernstein) tackles Wagner, with the audience in the position of the wind players. We hear his unspoken thoughts and those of his wife, a lascivious young fan, the concertmaster, and a singer, courtesy of Terrence McNally. It’s droll but over-extended and melodramatic. Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, 10900 Burbank Bl, North Hollywood, (818) 700-4878. Lcgrt.com. Sats at 5; Suns at 7. Closes May 18. (DS)

Snake in the Grass. Alan Ayckbourn’s psychological thriller pits long-estranged middle-aged sisters (Pamela Salem, Claire Jacobs) against their late father’s ex-nurse (Nicola Bertram). Mark Rosenblatt’s U.S. premiere achieves jump-in-your-seat moments, thanks to high-strung performances, atmospheric design, and a score by ex-Dire Straitser Hal Lindes. Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave, L.A. Info: (323) 960-4420 or Salemktheatreco.org. Closes May 4. (DS)

The Sunshine Boys. Jeffrey Hayden’s intimate revival brings out the best in Neil Simon’s comedy about two estranged ex-comedy partners (Hal Linden, Allan Miller) who are encouraged to re-unite for a TV special by the grumpier geezer’s agent and nephew (Eddie Kehler). Linden’s impeccable timing is a thing of beauty. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S Sepulveda Bl, L.A., (310) 477-2055. Odysseytheatre.com. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 2. May 11 & 25 at 7 only; May 7 at 8. Closes June 1. (DS)

Tallgrass Gothic. Melanie Marnich’s dose of rural Midwestern adultery and its unhappy results was inspired by a 1622 play by Thomas Middleton. So it’s an old story, grimly predictable and surprisingly restrained – with no nudity and scant onstage violence. An eye-catching performance by Carrie Witta helps. Jaime L. Robledo directed, tautly. Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N Heliotrope Dr, Hollywood, (310) 281-8337. Sacredfools.org. Tues-Weds at 8. Closes May 7. (DS)

Testosterone: How Prostate Cancer Made a Man of Me. UCLA screenwriting prof Hal Ackerman portrays himself in his witty, affirming chronicle, assisted by professional actors Lisa Robins and Randy Oglesby in the other roles and director Michael Arabian. Ackerman’s not a polished actor, but his personal touch adds compensatory charm. The Powerhouse Theatre, 3116 Second St, Santa Monica, (310) 396-3680. Powerhousetheatre.com. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 4. Closes May 10. (DS)

The Time of Your Life. Matt McKenzie’s revival of William Saroyan’s panoramic look at a seedy barroom in 1939 San Francisco has some fine performances and moments but loses steam in some of the logier scenes, at least when compared to last year’s Open Fist production. Robb Derringer is gruffly authoritative as the free-spending protagonist. Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd., Venice, (310) 822-8392. Pacificresidenttheatre.com. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes June 1. (DS)

The Violet Hour. Richard Greenberg’s oddity depicts a 25-year-old publisher (Thomas Burr) in 1919 Manhattan, wavering between books by his desperate friend and his secret lover, when a machine starts issuing detailed reports from the future. Stuart Rogers’s staging overcomes a strangely age-blind casting choice and second-act implausibilities. Theatre Tribe, 5267 Lankershim Bl, North Hollywood, (800) 838-6006. Theatretribe.com. Thurs-Sats at 8. Closes May 3. (DS)

What They Have. A Hollywood power couple (Matt Letscher, Marin Hinkle) and their arty, less affluent friends (Kevin Rahm, Nancy Bell) takes turns envying each other over issues of money, creative fulfillment, and parenthood in Kate Robin’s script, saturated with articulate conversations. Chris Fields’s staging mitigates the heady claustrophobia. South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, (714) 708-5555. Southcoastrepertory.com. Tues-Weds at 7:30; Thurs-Fris at 8; Sats at 2:30 & 8; Suns at 2:30 & 7:30. Closes May 4. (DS)

Wicked. New actors occupy four major roles in the Stephen Schwartz/Winnie Holzman musical steamroller about the formative years of Oz’s witches. Most important are Caissie Levy as a crackerjack Elphaba and Jo Anne Worley, perfectly suited to the overbearing cackles of Madame Morrible. I like the show more each time I see it. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Bl, Hollywood, (213) 365-3500. BroadwayLA.org. Call for performance schedule. Closes Jan 11. (DS)